Question of the Day

Whose side of the story do you believe?

KINGMAN, Ariz. (AP) - A county sheriff in Arizona is asking for a local sales tax increase to help improve his department’s services.

The Kingman Daily Miner reports (https://bit.ly/1OlbRUP ) that Mohave County Sheriff Jim McCabe has asked the board of supervisors to increase the sales tax by a quarter-cent during next year’s budget process.

McCabe said Monday that he realizes the request might hurt him on election day next year, but says the need outweighs any political consequences.

He says the department finds it hard to retain deputies with salaries below those in other counties and a lack of pay raises. According to McCabe, staffing levels fall behind other agencies.

He says a quarter-cent tax bump would generate an estimated $6 to $7 million a year, which could be used to increase staff and retention.